The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-25
Written for THE SUNDAY HERALD.
TWO VIEWS0F NATURE
BY ULYSSES.

and multiform objects. From its re-
cesses issues a many voiced, but har-
monious language, which each hears
for himself, and interprets according to
his aim and the dictates of the soul
within. If one seek knowledge, here are
objects for study; if beauty, it is every
where existent; if sublimity, it is in the
vault above; if sympathy, all things are
fraternal.
There are two ways of viewing nature
the scientific and the poetic; and, as
the scientist is the embodiment of the
scientific view, so is the poet the en-
bodiment of the poetic view of nature.
These two views, in and of themselves,
are radically different, and are from OPP
posite standpoints.
The standpoint of the scientist is in
the midst of things, yet he is stranger
to everything around him. The phe-
nomenon OF life are unknown: the links
that bind all things together are unfelt.
But bis intellect is ever active, and he
must know the aUby and wherefore of the
revelations made by the senses. Every
thing is submitted to test; nothing is
taken for granted. The rocks that
form the earth; the vegetable life that
adorns its surface; the winds ard
storms that disturb its atmosphere; the
beings that move upon it; the sun,
moon, and planets that roll in space;
these must all be submitted to the min
ute analysis of the intellect. For the
scientist looks upon nature as the store
house of causes and effects, of truths
10 of win
laws, which govern the universe in its
every detail; and he seeks to become
the exponent of nature, by probing into
her every secret.
The poet, on the other hand, views
nature from a standpoint, as it were,
above things; and yet he is in the midst
of them. He is ADORE things, because he
can look upon all; he is amidst things,
because he can feel the links of sym
patty that bind him to even the most
insignificant of creations objects. In
deed, we may imagine the poet as look
ing down into that sea of experience,
whose surface mirror images of all that
is in heaven above, in the earth beneath,
and in the waters under the earth. In
everything he sees himself; when ma
ture rejoices, he rejoices with her when
she grleYes, he also grieYes; when she
clouds, he participates in her mood; for
there seems to be a complete reciprocity
of feeling. A poet in speaking or sim
pie reed well says:
81 am no trumpet, but reed,-
A broken reed, the wind indeed
Left flat upon dismal shore;
Yet II lilUle maid or child
Should sigh within it, earnest-mild
This reed will answer ever more"
As the poet is in sympathy, so he is
in harmony with nature. Like a child
he cOmmuneS with her, and throws the
flood gates of his soul wide open, to re-
ceive the thousand currents of impress
sion. He is a believer in the eternal fit
ness of things, and sees beauty as an In
herent quality,
The scientist has been considered the
representative of the scientific, and the
poet as the representative of the poetic
view of nature; the scientist being the
representative of the intellectual ele-
ment in man, the poet of the spiritual.
Both
GO forth, under the open sky, and list
To Natures teachings"
but with what a different spirit The |
one goes in doubling mind: nothing is |
taken for what it seems; natures fairest |
forms are cut, and sliced, and formu- |
lated, with a cold, mephistophelIan |
cynicism, and whatever of sympathy he
may find is due to his imaginative !
faculty. On the other hand, the poet |
goes to nature in child-like trust and |
simplicity; his soul is open to innumer-
able impressions of beauty and grand
eur; and an indissoluble bond of rela-
tionship binds the human to the not
human.
And what may we gain from these?
Both views of nature are essential to the
welfare and happiness of mankind. 1t
is necessary to view nature scientifically
in order to learn her operating laws; in
order to win her TO our service as a
trusty helpmate. But much more is it
necessary to view nature in a poetic
light, Tor on this depends our best hap
piness. our joys and sympathies in life.
Upon 1t depends our responsiveness to
the soul, whose revelations are capable
Of giving the divinest pleasure, whose
is the one cardinal aim of
life. Upon it depends our recognition
of the ultimate conse- omnipotence
whose handwork is displayed in every
flower that blooms, in every animal
that moves, in every man that lives.
The scientific and the poetic views of
nature must De cOmOlneQ and 1ntlm-
ately interviewer, to secure the highest
friction. in either. The intellectual man
must become unified with the spiritual
man, to reach that development which
he position of the race in pature points
out. When this end shall be attained
when the scientist shall go forth with
he loving and sympathetic spirit of the
poet; when from every new fact re-
7ealed, he sees more and more deeply
nto the soul of things; when his own
being pulsates in unison with the all
prevailing essence; then will the scien-
list be more than intellectual, and then
will scientific viewing of nature gather
is most benefcent rewards. When, {
90, the poet shall go in the spirit of The I
scientist; when to his love and sym i
)sthy, he shall join close and accurate p.
of nature; when, to the in
of the pervading spirit of
he shall join intimate aceuain-
ance with her facts, then, also, will his
,ffice be best filled; then will he dis
;over new beauty and harmony; and
hen will the poetic contemplation of
nature most completely fulfil its mission. :